Info

Rory van Dokkum was born in 1994, in the area of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Contact with the world of pictures began almost immediately, thanks to the many books his parents and grandparents had accumulated over the years: books on history and mythology, decorated encyclopaedias and collections of cartoon strips. Most important of all, however, were the hours spent in a studio, watching his grandfather - an accomplished artist and illustrator by the name of Angus McBride - work away with gouache paints on his latest project, adding layer after layer to images rich with detail and colour.

At around 4 years of age, Rory started drawing - after that, he never stopped. When he was 8, his family moved to Ireland, exchanging the sunny suburbia of their hometown for the peaceful Irish countryside. Doodling in class in primary school was followed by learning how to actually apply that skill during art classes in secondary school. Then came a four year course in Visual Art in WIT, and with it exposure to new techniques, new materials, and a whole range of artists both old and new: from the twisted landscapes of Hieronymus Bosch, to Surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Max Ernst, to the intricate works of modern-day Kris Kuksi. By the end of it all, Rory had finally developed an art style he was content with, and a head full of ideas for ways to use it.

Rory van Dokkum now currently works as a freelance artist and illustrator at a studio in Garter Lane, Waterford.